Pending rep tells Sarawak Assembly not to silence opposition through suspension

Yong debating a motion to suspend Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen in DUNS sitting on Oct 15, 2026. Photo: JaPEN Sarawak

By Karen Bong

KUCHING, Oct 16: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong has hit out at a motion to suspend Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen for the remainder of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUNS) sitting, accusing the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led government of attempting to silence opposition voices it does not want to hear.

Strongly opposing the motion, Yong said the government should address criticism rather than punish elected representatives for challenging its policies.

“Do not use suspension as a substitute for answering criticism,” she said when debating the motion at the Assembly sitting today.

Yong questioned whether GPS, which holds 80 of the Assembly’s 82 seats, could tolerate having just two DAP opposition representatives speaking up for the people.

She said opposition representatives were elected to scrutinise public spending, question government policies, expose weaknesses and hold the administration accountable, rather than simply praise the government.

While acknowledging that all assemblymen must abide by the Standing Orders, Yong said the rules should not be used to suppress dissent.

“The rules must not become a convenient weapon to silence voices that the government does not want to hear,” she said, adding that any alleged breach by Chong should be examined fairly.

Yong described the proposed suspension as a high-handed punishment, arguing that removing an elected representative would not silence the concerns of his constituents.

“You may suspend one Padungan, but you cannot suspend the people of Padungan. You may remove one DAP (Democratic Action Party) representative from this House, but you cannot remove the people’s demand for accountability,” she said.

She urged the House to reject the motion, reminding GPS that voters, rather than the ruling coalition, would determine who represented them.

“The people decide who sits in this House, not GPS. You may have the power to suspend an elected representative today, but you cannot decide who the people will elect tomorrow,” she said.

Earlier, Yong challenged Speaker Tan Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar over his assertion that Chong had chosen not to attend the sitting, insisting that he was absent because of parliamentary business.

She said she and Chong had met Asfia on Wednesday (Oct 14) to inform him that Chong needed to attend to a parliamentary matter today.

“It is unfair for Tuan Speaker to say Member for Padungan chose not to present today’s sitting,” she said.

Asfia replied that he had agreed to their request for exemption but said the procedure required the application to be submitted in writing through the Assembly secretary.

He also referred to a Facebook post published the previous night which he said appeared to criticise the chair over the Assembly’s Hansard, questioning Chong’s whereabouts.

Yong disputed the suggestion that Chong was in Kuching, insisting that he was attending Parliament and urging the Speaker to be fair to opposition representatives.

The exchange intensified when Asfia told Yong not to be both a member of Parliament and a State representative at the same time.

Yong cited the assemblymen for Repok and Dudong, questioning whether the same standard applied to them.

“Come on lah, Mr Speaker, be more gentleman and professional,” she said.

Concluding her debate, Yong said GPS should not mistake its numerical majority for the right to demand agreement from everyone.

“You can suspend an ADUN, but you cannot suspend democracy. You can silence one voice for a sitting, but you cannot silence the people’s power,” she said.

Chong has been suspended from the service of the DUNS for the remainder of the current session after a motion citing an allegedly misleading statement about the Sarawak Budget 2027 document and his conduct during the Budget debate was passed today.

The motion was moved by Transport Minister and Senadin assemblyman Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin and seconded by Minister in the Premier’s Department and Kakus assemblyman Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai. — DayakDaily